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Toronto Through My Lens

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Tilted Spheres

October 21, 2023 / / 1 Comment

Hello everyone and welcome back to TOcityscapes after my little hiatus!

Having recently passed through Toronto’s Pearson Airport on an international trip, I had an opportunity to view and photograph this sculpture up close. Given that, I thought a post on this piece would be appropriate.

This work is called Tilted Spheres, created by the artist Richard Serra. It resides at Pearson International Airport in the International Departures area, Terminal 1, and was installed in 2004.

The sculpture is past the security gates, so only international travellers boarding at gates in Pier F will see it and be able to walk among its four sections. It’s so big and heavy that it was laid into the floor when the terminal was under construction, then the walls and ceiling were built around it.

Its sheer size and scope, at 120 tonnes, makes it unmissable. The curved walls create an echo effect that is endlessly tested by intrigued adults and children, thousands of whom pass, and touch, the installation every day.

Whenever I see this work in person I always become enthused; given it’s in the international departures area I identity it with imminent travel, fun and intrigue.

The Tip Top Lofts

September 8, 2023 / / 2 Comments

At 637 Lakeshore Blvd. West just west of Bathurst Street sits the Tip Top Lofts. Just behind it lies Lake Ontario. This building has a long and prominent history in Toronto. Formerly known as the Tip Top Tailors Building, it was constructed in 1929 and housed the manufacturing, warehousing, retail and office operations of Tip Top Tailors Ltd., a menswear clothing retailer founded in 1909 by Polish-Jewish immigrant David Dunkelman.

The building was designed by Bishop and Miller architects, incorporating the Art Deco style. In 1972, the building was designated as a heritage structure by the City of Toronto.

In spring 2002, Dylex (the company owning the building) sold the property to Context Development, who converted it into condominium lofts. The conversion was designed by architects Alliance of Toronto. The conversion included the addition of six stories on the roof. The neon Tip Top Tailors rooftop sign was retained and given a slant. Inside, there are 256 beautifully renovated lofts.

A few notes on the interior lofts courtesy of the website condos.ca:

Offering “hard” and “soft” lofts: When the building was converted into lofts in the early 2000’s, Context Developments was smart-thinking to create both hard and soft lofts. What that means is that Tip Top Lofts offers both the classic, exposed brick and woodbeam “hard loft” style, as well as more modern “soft loft” styles that will feel like a contemporary condo.

A Few Historical Photos

Courtesy of the City of Toronto Archives and torontolofts.ca, here are a few photos tracing the history of this magnificent Art Deco building:

1926
1930
1940
1980: Tip Top Tailors building in the background with a Joy Gas Station in front
1985

Wilson Heights, Part 3: Yorkdale Murals

September 6, 2023 / / 0 Comments

This is the third and last instalment of a 3-part post focusing on some of the murals and artwork in the Wilson Heights area of the city. Here, we visit some community artwork just outside of Yorkdale Mall.

These murals were created several years ago and I’m afraid that time and tide have taken a toll on many of them as they are quite faded and fragmented. The murals can be found on the outside of the north subway entrance into Yorkdale Mall.

I couldn’t find too much information on this particular Art Start project; the listed website on the murals is no longer active. I did, however, source some information on the Art Starts organization in general, courtesy of their website.

Art Starts is a program benefiting thousands of people living in marginalized Toronto neighbourhoods by providing a safe, supportive and inclusive environment for self-expression and creative collaboration.

The organization affords opportunities for vulnerable people of all ages to contribute to the creative ecology of their neighbourhoods, using the arts to help end the negative cycles associated with marginalization and poverty.

Art Starts nurtures local talent, beautifies public spaces and provides safe, inclusive environments for self-expression and collaboration.

I believe many of the subjects in these murals were the actual artists from the neighbourhood.

Wilson Heights, Part 2: Wilson Station South Exit

September 4, 2023 / / 0 Comments

This is the second instalment of a 3-part post focusing on some of the murals and artwork in the Wilson Heights area of the city.

There is a newly developed area on the south side of Wilson Avenue called – strangely enough – Southside. This area has a very colourful subway station entrance and tunnel.

South entrance of Wilson subway station, west side
Artwork created by street artist Shalak Attack, the same artist who created the Allen Road underpass art on Wilson Avenue

Murals in the South Entrance of Wilson Subway Station

South entrance of Wilson subway station, east side

Next post: Wilson Heights, Part 3: Yorkdale Murals

Wilson Heights, Part 1: Wilson Station Exit to Wilson Avenue

September 1, 2023 / / 1 Comment

This is a 3-part post focusing on some of the murals and artwork in the Wilson Heights area of the city.

First up are the Wilson subway station murals. These murals are located on Wilson Avenue under the Allen Road underpass, at the south exit of the Wilson subway station. There are 40 pillars of artwork, created by street artist Shalak Attack and her collaborator Bruno Smoky. The colour of the artwork certainly gives a lift to an otherwise drab, depressing part of the city.

North Side of Wilson Avenue

Crossing Wilson Avenue to shoot murals on the south side of the Allen Road underpass, I took this shot to highlight why a bit of colour is appreciated in this part of town

South Side of Wilson Avenue

Next post: Wilson Heights, Part 2: Wilson Station South Exit

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“Sundial Folly”

August 30, 2023 / / 3 Comments

Sundial Folly is a large concrete ball sitting on the edge of Lake Ontario. Located at at 25 Queen’s Quay West, it was created by John Fung and Paul Figueiredo and installed at Toronto’s Harbourfront in 1995.

A folly in architectural terms is a building or structure built for decoration without any real function. This particular folly, though, is supposed to work as a sundial – I’m not sure if that happens or not. Even if it is useless as a sundial, it’s an interesting piece of art and you can actually go inside of it.

Someone, obviously an “Aliens” fan, created this image on the inside of the sculpture

The folly rests in a pool of water. The water feeds a small waterfall that tumbles a few feet into Lake Ontario on the east side of the pier in Harbour Square Park.

Panorama India 2023

August 27, 2023 / / 1 Comment

Panorama India 2023, with the support of the Consulate General of India, celebrated India’s 76th anniversary of Indian Independence Day on August 20th, 2023 at Nathan Phillips Square.

The Panorama India Parade

The Panorama India event celebrated the vibrant culture, art and heritage of India. The event started with the Grand Parade down Bay Street, across King Street West, up University Avenue, then back to Nathan Phillips Square on Queen Street West. There, Nathan Phillips Square was transformed into a lively place with the sites, sounds, and flavors of India.

These two gentlemen on Queen Street West were preparing for the Panorama India Parade, which was gathering at Nathan Phillips Square
On Queen Street West, arriving back at Nathan Phillips Square

Panorama India Celebrations at Nathan Phillips Square

As the parade wound down the crowd returned to Nathan Phillips Square. There was plenty of food, entertainment and dancing for the rest of the day:

At Nathan Phillips Square
Henna application
Dancers from the Tamil Nadu Cultural Society Of Canada
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Toronto Chinatown Festival 2023

August 24, 2023 / / 1 Comment

On August 19 and 20 the Toronto Chinatown Business Improvement Area hosted its 23rd annual Toronto Chinatown Festival on Spadina Avenue, running from Sullivan Street to College Street.

This year the Festival’s theme was Flaming Phoenix: Rebirth & Uprising, signifying the rebirth of our city after COVID-19. In Chinese mythology, the Phoenix is an immortal bird whose rare appearance is said to be an omen foretelling harmony at the ascent to the throne of a new emperor – the same might be applied to our city as we try to put COVID behind us.

Falun Dafa Parade

Making my way up Spadina Avenue to the Festival, I encountered a parade from the Falun Dafa practitioners. They were supporting the 417 million Chinese people who have withdrawn from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and its youth organizations. The parade began at Clarence Park and wound through the streets of Chinatown. As far as I know, this parade was not connected with the Chinatown Festival in any way.

Toronto Chinatown Festival

Moving further north up Spadina Avenue I found the actual Festival. This year’s Festival seemed really scaled back to me and there didn’t seem to be that much of interest to photograph; regardless I found:

Lots of street food…

Plenty of jewellery and clothing vendors…

Magicians…

Singers…

And various street stuff…

Moving out of the Festival area and further down Spadina Avenue, I encountered Saturday afternoon market shoppers:

And that was about it!

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“The Watchers”

August 22, 2023 / / 0 Comments

At the corner of Queen Street East and Victoria Street sits a sculpture by artist Peter von Tiesenhausen. Entitled The Watchers, the sculpture was established in 2002 and is made from cast iron and granite.

The iron figures in The Watchers are direct casts of five wood originals which were carved and blackened in a fire on the Canadian prairies. From there began a journey that took them 35,000 kilometres through every province and around every territory. From Newfoundland they navigated the Northwest Passage to Tuktoyaktuk. Down the Arctic ice road, through the mountains of the Yukon and the Queen Charlotte Islands in British Columbia, The Watchers returned to the prairies five years later. Having nearly traced the geographical boundaries of Canada, they had come full circle.

If you’d like to read more about their story, click here.

Milkman’s Lane

August 18, 2023 / / 0 Comments

This post is sort of a companion piece to my last post on Craigleigh Gardens. The quiet and scenic urban trail known as Milkman’s Lane is located off South Drive in Rosedale, next to Craigleigh Gardens.

Though short and steep, the trail connects with the Beltline Trail which leads to the nearby Evergreen Brick Works, Moore Park Ravine and the Lower Don trail system.

Seen on historic maps since at least 1890, the abandoned roadway is 130 years old. It’s been said the pathway was originally intended for mostly commercial transport including, presumably, deliveries of milk.

It’s now a beautiful dirt pathway bordered in by wooden fences and plunging hills on either side as you’re led further into the ravine system. It’s primarily frequented by cyclists, hikers and dog walkers.

The lush vegetation includes black cherry, hemlock, yellow birch, ironwood, the endangered butternut, oak and maple trees.

If you keep following the Park Road Reservation Trail west at the bottom of the ravine, you’ll be offered up pretty views of Yellow Creek as it flows by.

Reference: BlogTO

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